What have you done for your bike today????

[Banzai]

The FZ1s and FZ8s are actually very comfy to ride. I'd say the FZ8 was the most comfortable bike I've ever ridden. The sitting position is a little more upright than the GS500.

They basically a detuned street/tourer version of the older R1 supersports bikes. Four cylinders are certainly a lot smoother than any parallel twin and the 20valve engine is a lot more high tech than the GS.

Apart from paint and fine tuning of the ECU, the FZ1s have barely changed since 2006.

[GS500F2004]

Nice work Pete, is it me or is there still a small crack? Not where the weld is but just on the upper side?

[GS500F2004]

I hadn't planned to sell the GS. A friend mentioned he had another friend who just got the learner's permit and was looking for a bike. Deal unexpectedly and painlessly done.

And yes, I'm in Australia. Sydney' upper north shore.

I only have one more worthwhile pic. I've either been working or riding.

The FZ1 is one nice bike, I plan on getting one at some point too. Perhaps not the FZ1, more likely the FZ8. Going to keep a supersports and a tourer type, if money permits.

I'm very hesitant to sell my GS to a learner, the wreckers are full of newer F model GS500's. If I do sell it, it will be a very reluctant sale and I will be pretty selective. Don't want to rock up to the wreckers one day looking for a spare part and see my old bike hanging around there.

Us Sydneysiders should meet up one day, have a beer and a steak, maybe two beers or no beers depending on the licence. 

[peteGS]

Nice work Pete, is it me or is there still a small crack? Not where the weld is but just on the upper side?

Cheers mate, and yes there is still a bit there but it feels pretty solid regardless.

I wanted to run a weld down the inside as well which would've taken care of that, but I only have a stick welder and my hand shakes too much to get a run on the inside of the 90 degree angle, so I called it good enough for now.

[TheOzTurkish]

Hey Oz ... Mate of mine was or is selling one.... Feel like lashing out and parking it up for a bit? ... You could still drool on it of an evening! 

If i had the cash I'd buy one on my L's no probs lol I saw one up in QLD for about $13,000 32k km's would be a sweet ride back..... but I think my next step up will be a Yamaha XJ6...... I didn't know they were LAMS bikes

[NikonAndy]

Got my new p3 brake and turn signal modulator put in. Pretty over the top, but cagers are noticeably backing off on my way home. Also, got caught in our Seattle rain coming home. Welcome to winter.

[Zithromax]

Trucked the bike to Atlanta today, then left the truck at a shop and used the bike as an "escape pod" to ride back home. Applied "fly racing" sticker to windshield and picked up about 4 more horse power.

(adding stickers to gain HP is a long running joke I picked up, everyone here in on it?) 

[Janx101]

Most of us.... Of course stickers don't add as much HP as a good stainless GS500 chain guard!!!

[TheOzTurkish]

Just got home almost ran into the back door to check on the bike, no puddle of fuel and no smell, opened the tank and was still full so good signs, booked her in Friday to get new hoses fitted while at work should be good, was talking to the mechanic he was saying I was lucky the whole thing didn't go up in flames...... must've had someone watching over me hahahaha

[peteGS]

The commute was great today, gear changing much improved and no flat spot as I crack the throttle was a huge bonus 

[TheOzTurkish]

The commute was great today, gear changing much improved and no flat spot as I crack the throttle was a huge bonus 

did you end up getting the second weld done on the back?

[GS500F2004]

Hey Oz ... Mate of mine was or is selling one.... Feel like lashing out and parking it up for a bit? ... You could still drool on it of an evening! 

If i had the cash I'd buy one on my L's no probs lol I saw one up in QLD for about $13,000 32k km's would be a sweet ride back..... but I think my next step up will be a Yamaha XJ6...... I didn't know they were LAMS bikes

When do you go for your P's test? Will you have to do P2 or straight to full's after the year?

[TheOzTurkish]

Hey Oz ... Mate of mine was or is selling one.... Feel like lashing out and parking it up for a bit? ... You could still drool on it of an evening! 

If i had the cash I'd buy one on my L's no probs lol I saw one up in QLD for about $13,000 32k km's would be a sweet ride back..... but I think my next step up will be a Yamaha XJ6...... I didn't know they were LAMS bikes

When do you go for your P's test? Will you have to do P2 or straight to full's after the year?

P2's as I lost my drivers license, got my L's back after 6 months and got my bike license, Ive been riding 4 or so months now, thinking another 4-6 and ill do the advance test

[GS500F2004]

Hmm, I'm not too sure how it works in SA. Will look it up now.

That's unfortunate losing your licence, we got some of the harshest road rules and it does nothing safety wise.

[Turd Ferguson]

Rode my GS for the first time in 5 years yesterday.  It ran perfectly, as if it hadn't been sitting all of this time!  Unfortunately, it has to be stored for the year, but looking forward to riding it next spring!

Dan

[TheOzTurkish]

Hmm, I'm not too sure how it works in SA. Will look it up now.

That's unfortunate losing your licence, we got some of the harshest road rules and it does nothing safety wise.

yer I can understand where their coming from but I think it could be implemented better..... but who am I to say, minds far greater then mine make the rules I can do the advanced course at any time, they recommend 6 months but I want to be sure, I also couldn't find any info on whether you can have just a motorcycle license or whether you need a full car license, no one seems to know

EDIT: http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/transport,%20travel%20and%20motoring/Motoring/Motorcycling/Motorcycle+licences/Applying+for+a+motorcycle+licence
So after passing the advanced course I can take my slip in and get bumped to my P's, then after 12 months can get an unrestricted license

[TheOzTurkish]

Rode my GS for the first time in 5 years yesterday.  It ran perfectly, as if it hadn't been sitting all of this time!  Unfortunately, it has to be stored for the year, but looking forward to riding it next spring!

Dan

5 years? holy crap and there's the guy on the forum trying to sort his gf's bike after 3 years under a tree............ shows what good maintenance and prepping can do hay

[GS500F2004]

Hmm, I'm not too sure how it works in SA. Will look it up now.

That's unfortunate losing your licence, we got some of the harshest road rules and it does nothing safety wise.

yer I can understand where their coming from but I think it could be implemented better..... but who am I to say, minds far greater then mine make the rules I can do the advanced course at any time, they recommend 6 months but I want to be sure, I also couldn't find any info on whether you can have just a motorcycle license or whether you need a full car license, no one seems to know

EDIT: http://www.sa.gov.au/subject/transport,%20travel%20and%20motoring/Motoring/Motorcycling/Motorcycle+licences/Applying+for+a+motorcycle+licence
So after passing the advanced course I can take my slip in and get bumped to my P's, then after 12 months can get an unrestricted license

That is very confusing, for me at least in NSW. I think the system may be similar to ours? It's just not very clear, but I guess since you live there you'll have a better idea.

I'm not entirely convinced that this idea of if you hold a car licence you're automatically OK to get on a full motorcycle licence after a year and jump on a Hayabusa. However, I'm not going to complain as thanks to that, I get to jump on a 600RR in about 2 months from now as I skip the P2 period.

Edit: I'm actually moving to Victoria for a bit, and their laws are even better, I'll actually try and get my full licence in about one week. If you hold a full car licence there, and are over 25 you'll go straight to a full motorcycle licence after the test. Although, you're still restricted to LAMS and no pillion. But there are no speed restrictions, no need for plates, and the regular BAC limit of 0.05

[GS500F2004]

Oh, and to stay on topic.

I bought an '01 SV650 clutch perch + lever for $45 today at the wreckers. No time to put it on just yet. Will do so soon, and will likely need a new clutch cable as the throw is different as someone said before. It doesn't have the mirror mount, so I'm guessing it didn't come off a naked model, but as I have the F model GS, it won't really matter to me.

They were pretty nice blokes at the wreckers, they put in a brand new lever for me as well, the old lever was rather tarnished and not in the best shape.

So it's right next to the bike, waiting to be installed.

[peteGS]

The commute was great today, gear changing much improved and no flat spot as I crack the throttle was a huge bonus 

did you end up getting the second weld done on the back?

Nah I stuck with just the one, I can't get my hand to stop shaking the stick enough to weld in the 90 degree angle. It's definitely nice and solid though!